The ANC of our past, the DA of our future

08 April 2014, 10:54

We are now 20 years into democracy, and although change has been made, I almost feel that this change was inevitable. Many people are quick to say that the ANC has made change, which I will not dispute, as, they have made some noticeable change, but not enough.

The minute one questions why the ANC should be put back into power, supporters of the party hit back with statements about how the ANC is ‘Mandela’s party’, and that if you leave it you are leaving him. I don’t appreciate such comments, because the Nelson Mandela we all knew of would never promote, practise or condone some of the acts carried out by the ANC nowadays. He would never approve of stealing from the people, leaving them stuck in the same poverty-stricken places 20 years on. He would never accept the state of our education system and the corruption bubbling out of the ANC at every angle. That, my fellow citizens, is not what I would call Mandela’s party. Mandela’s party existed a long time ago, and was led by the right people with the right aims, goals, and mind-sets. Mandela’s party, or rather, the true principles of the party and the acts that should have been and were carried out, are no longer present in those leading the party at this moment in time. This is not what Mandela would have wanted the people of South Africa to be living in. The sooner we realise that change is needed, the better.

It is quite obvious to many living in South Africa that a good 6 months before election time, the ANC suddenly pops up in the lives of people who have never seen them before. They (the ANC) begin to travel to all corners of South Africa, helping communities for a day or two, claiming to really care for the people of that community (even though the service delivery in that particular area is terribly low) and then leaving again, not to be back for the next 5 years. These people are granted temporary help, how is that help at all? This type of ‘help’ or delivery of needs is what should happen on a daily basis and not simply once off to gain votes. The promises we all hear which are merely thought of but not implemented are getting old now.

There is a party, though, that I personally believe could bring change to our South Africa, the party who is, statistically, the least racial party (for all those wondering), the party who runs the best kept municipality in Gauteng, the party whose basic service related statistics are those we all hope for, such as 99.1% of households in their province having access to piped water and 93.4% having access to electricity and 96.9% having toilet facilities. This is the party who, I believe, truly deliver on what they promise and truly care about the people, the party that is the Democratic Alliance. Now, whether you support the Democratic Alliance or not, one must admit that their service delivery is something we all would want for our country – and they are delivering it. I have heard from some who have previously lived in Gauteng and who have, at a later stage, moved to the Western Cape about what a positive change of lifestyle they experience. I am not saying that provinces do not have their problems, but the DA is working on their problems instead of simply ignoringthem until they are no longer mentioned.

Here are just some of the DA statistics taken from their 2014 Manifesto:

“In the Western Cape 76% of the provincial government’s budget is spent on poor communities.

• Since we have been in government, the average matric pass rate in our poorest schools increased from 56.9% to 73%.

• The province has the lowest unemployment rate in South Africa – 12% lower than the national average.

• The Western Cape has the highest level of basic service provision in the country – 99.1% of households in the province have access to piped water, 93.4% to electricity and 96.9% have toilet facilities.

• The City of Cape Town has the smallest gap between the rich and the poor of any city in the country.”

The bottom line is that the time has come for South Africa to really think. Have we developed as far as we should have after 20 years into democracy?

We are the people of a democracy! I honestly believe that some individuals do not know the meaning and value of that. We choose our own destiny for our own country! It is all in our hands – Whether we put a corrupt government in charge, or a people-caring government – Now, seeing as YOU have the choice of which one you’d like to run YOUR country, which would YOU choose?

Choosing to eat the burnt cookies from the batch and expecting them to taste different is ridiculous - you know that there are good cookies, so why not take those?

I hope for another party to win this year's elections, but if the current party does, that they should win by a small majority. South Africa is a country full of potential in terms of its people, their talents, ambition and culture. South Africa needs a government that will push it forward, not continually pull it back. It needs a government that will deliver and will improve aspects such as education, job creation and other services. We are not blinded by what the current government does, so why see it, ignore it, and put them in power? This is your life, your country, your future and the future of your children, think about it all, and make the right decision.

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